Saturday, May 9, 2015

Photos: 8 year old boy found in suitcase at Spanish border

How can you risk your child's life this way? An 8-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast survived several hours locked in a suitcase, bundled in a fetal position, as his family tried to smuggle him into Spain. But they didn't succeed as police officers discovered him in the suitcase via scan on Thursday May 7 in El Tarajal, a terrestrial point of entry at Spain's border with Morocco. See more pics after the cut...

The boy, who is now in Spanish custody, is believed to have spent many hours in the pink, medium-sized polyester suitcase, pressed against a few personal belongings.

"He was shocked when we opened the suitcase to see so many people looking at him," a Spanish police spokesman told CNN. He also said the boy is in good condition.

The police spokesman said police officers in El Tarajal became suspicious when a 21-year-old woman, a Moroccan National, showed signs of nervousness as she attempted to cross the border wheeling the suitcase down the street.

"Our officers asked her if she needed help as the wheels began to give in," the spokesman said.

Suspecting a drug smuggling case, police brought the suitcase in for an x-ray. That is when they found the boy.

He was immediately taken to a state child custodian and awaits judicial process, the official said.

A man who is apparently his father, identified as A.O., was arrested a few hours after the boy was found. The man, who has permanent residency in Spain, awaits formal charges.

The spokesman said this is the first time they have found this type of smuggling, in which a child was locked into a container.